50 Contestants Unveiled in the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge

Animal shelters nationwide to compete for chance at $600,000in prize grants for saving more animals

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today released the names of the 50 animal shelters that will compete in the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, with a total of $600,000 in prize grants up for grabs to help shelters save more homeless cats and dogs.

The contestants will gear up for the competition to save more animals – during the months of June, July and August 2013 – than they did over the same three-month period in 2012. Last year's competing shelters saved more than 56,000 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 14,376 over the same period in 2011.

"In a matter of days we filled up all 50 spots, and we have a great mix of shelters of all shapes and sizes representing 31 states and territories," says Bert Troughton, vice president of Community Outreach at the ASPCA. "The contest isn't even underway yet, and already we're seeing incredible energy and passion from the field. If that's any indication of how the competition will go, we're in for another record-breaking year of saving lives."

The 50 contestants in the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge are:

Greater Birmingham Humane Society in Birmingham, Ala.

Mobile County Animal Control in Mobile, Ala.

Western Arizona Humane Society in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

HALO Animal Rescue in Phoenix, Ariz.

Butte Humane Society in Chico, Calif.

Hesperia Animal Control and Services in Hesperia, Calif.

Moreno Valley Animal Shelter in Moreno Valley, Calif.

San Bernadino County Animal Care and Control in San Bernadino, Calif.

Yolo County Sheriff's Office - Animal Services in Woodland, Calif.

Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, D.C.

Humane Society of Pinellas in Clearwater, Fla.

Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood, Fla.

Jacksonville Humane Society in Jacksonville, Fla.

Pasco County Animal Services – FOAS, Inc. in Land O' Lakes, Fla.

Osceola County Animal Services in St. Cloud, Fla.

Cherokee County Animal Shelter in Canton, Ga.

Humane Society for Greater Savannah in Savannah, Ga.

Canyon County Animal Shelter in Caldwell, Idaho

South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights, Ill.

Macon County Animal Control and Care Center in Decatur, Ill.

Almost Home Humane Society in Lafayette, Ind.

Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa

Lawrence Humane Society in Lawrence, Kan.

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) in Baltimore, Md.

Animal Rescue League of Boston in Boston, Mass.

Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter in Dearborn, Mich.

Capital Area Humane Society in Lansing, Mich.

Humane Society of Midland County in Midland, Mich.

Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport, Miss.

Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, Mo.

The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas, Nev.

Eleventh Hour Rescue in Randolph, N.J.

Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley in Las Cruces, N.M.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, N.C.

Toledo Area Humane Society in Maumee, Ohio

Western Pennsylvania Humane Society in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Providence Animal Rescue League in Providence, R.I.

Anderson County P.A.W.S. in Anderson, S.C.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services in Jurupa, S.C.

Unicoi County Animal Shelter in Erwin, Tenn.

Beaumont Animal Services in Beaumont, Texas

City of Corpus Christi Animal Care Services in Corpus Christi, Texas

Citizens for Animal Protection in Houston, Texas

Houston Humane Society in Houston, Texas

Texas Humane Heroes in Leander, Texas

Salt Lake County Animal Services in Salt Lake City, Utah

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation in Sumerduck, Va.

Virginia Beach SPCA in Virginia Beach, Va.

Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee, Wis.

Cheyenne Animal Shelter in Cheyenne. Wyo.

The ASPCA and Rachael Ray will award a $100,000 grand prize to the shelter contestant that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during this three-month period. The contestant that does the best job of engaging its community members in helping to save more animals will win $25,000. Those organizations that do the best in their divisions will be eligible for between $10,000 and $25,000 in additional grants. In total, $600,000 in grant funding will be awarded for increases in animal lives saved and general participation.

All her life, Rachael Ray has been an advocate for animals and a supporter of animal welfare groups. Her love for animals and for her pit bull, Isaboo, inspired her to create a pet food called Nutrish® to raise money for animals in need. Ray donates 100 percent of her proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® to organizations like the ASPCA so they can implement programs like the $100K Challenge and support shelters and animal organizations around the country.

The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking contest that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. For more information about the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, please visit http://www.aspca.org/100kchallenge.

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

About Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray is best known as the host of the hit syndicated Emmy Award winning daytime television show "Rachael Ray" produced by CBS Television Distribution in association with Harpo Productions, Scripps Networks and Watch Entertainment. Rachael's warmth, energy, and boundless curiosity also reach millions of fans through her popular Food Network shows, her lifestyle magazine Everyday with Rachael Ray, her bestselling cookbooks, her digital home base www.rachaelray.com, her signature line of cookware manufactured by Meyer, her meal transport products by RR Accessories and her pantry products by Colavita. In 2007, Rachael launched the Yum-o! organization, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking and in 2008 she partnered with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to create a line of pet food with all of her proceeds being donated to organizations that help animals in need. For more information, visit www.rachaelray.com.

About Rachael's Rescue ™ and Nutrish

In 2008, Rachael Ray partnered with pet nutrition experts from Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to develop a line of super premium food and treats for dogs called Rachael Ray Nutrish®. Rachael Ray Nutrish® is made with simple, natural ingredients and includes three full-feeding varieties featuring real meat as the first ingredient – Real Chicken and Veggies, Real Beef and Brown Rice, and Healthy Weight with Real Turkey. All of Ray's proceeds from each sale of Rachael Ray Nutrish®, Just 6® food and treats for dogs and the Nutrish® Healthy Weight lines are donated to organizations that help animals in need through Rachael's RescueTM. So, not only are Nutrish® products great for your dog, they're great for countless other dogs as well.

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